North American boost for hypoallergenic rooms

(Hyatt)

Hyatt is to offer guests hypoallergenic rooms in all of its North American properties, it confirmed October 12.

The group, which operates Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Andaz properties, is to roll out approximately 2,000 hypoallergenic rooms in its hotels across the US, Canada and the Caribbean.

Branded Respire by Hyatt, the rooms use a system designed to eliminate more than 98 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria, as well as pollen and other irritants.

Approximately 60 Hyatt properties already offer the rooms, with the chain saying that most of the others will be available to reserve by the end of 2010, a total of 125 properties.

Hotel chains have been quick to embrace hypoallergenic rooms as a guest amenity that, in Hyatt's words, offers "travelers another way to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day."

The rooms normally use mattress and pillow coverings, treated surfaces and medical-grade filters and purifiers to reduce the particulate count in the room, estimated to be 3.7 million particles per cubic foot in a normal hotel room.

Hilton has installed the rooms at multiple properties throughout the US, while several Westin properties around the world also offer them.

Marriott, Fairmont, Shangri-La and Wyndham also offer hypoallergenic rooms at select properties.

http://www.respire.hyatt.com